Being Known For What We Are For
Surely no one will turn that against us. If we just say nice, non-controversial things, people will be nice to us.
Christians are constantly being labeled as anti-gay, anti-women, anti-science, anti-environment, etc. While there are numerous examples of Christians saying hurtful and mean things, the vast majority of Christians are for human flourishing and living to the high standard that God has set for us.
Disney Princesses, Football Coaches, Baptist Missionaries and Bad History
The Bible gives us a realistic understanding of human nature and a realistic answer to it.
I call this the Disney theology of human nature. This theology assumes that most people in the world are really pretty good (Cinderella, Ariel, Pocahontas, etc.) while a few people out there are really bad (Cruella DeVille, Ursala, Jafar, etc.). This is not a Christian understanding of human nature. For that reason, we need to... Continue Reading
How Bible Preachers Can Turn Into Cult Leaders
High profile church leaders need accountability to keep them focused on Christ and his truth.
There are 3 stepping stones used by personality cult leaders in developing a following. Loyalty to Bible to Movement to the Leader. If they were just to go around saying: ‘I am the messianic hero – follow me,’ then they would mostly just be ignored as crazy. So instead they use a 3 step strategy.... Continue Reading
Atheism, the NY Times, and My Hometown
When people do build their faith on such signs, they are making themselves vulnerable to attack
The big question that people ask when hearing of someone falling away from the faith is “Why?” What caused DeWitt to abandon the ministry and the faith that he once held so earnestly? DeWitt and I are about the same age and were probably in high school at the same time. But I don’t know DeWitt, and I certainly don’t presume to be able to account for everything that led to his apostasy.
I Asked Jesus into My Heart Many Times
I am not ungrateful for many of the experiences of my youth. I still have at my disposal a lot of KJV Bible verses.
The gospel is not, “Ask Jesus into your heart,” or, “Close with Christ,” or, “Accept Jesus as your personal Savior,” but, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, you and your house.” Experience is not the gospel. The gospel is about faith.
The humility and jealousy of the Holy Spirit
What we need is sermons on the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then the Spirit of Christ will come.
The Spirit keeps himself largely out of sight, his work intended to bring what God has accomplished in Christ Jesus into brightest and sharpest relief, for the blessing of sinners. So all our blessings are Spiritual blessings
Worshiping at the Altar of Family
Isn't family still a gift, not a god? Isn't it still something that can be elevated into first place, which should be reserved for God alone?
Churches encourage our husbands daily to not make idols out of their careers, and to not look at porn. But how are we, as wives, encouraging and exhorting one another not to make idols out of perhaps our greatest gifts: our families?
Is the Death Penalty Contrary to Scripture?
One must make the proper biblical distinction between the role of the state and the role of the church
Does “bear the sword” here mean simply carry it around so people can be impressed with how shiny and sharp it is? Obviously not. It is clearly a figure of speech signifying the government’s whole range of coercive power up to and including capital punishment. And, to top it all off, Paul says that if you oppose this power you’re opposing the God Who gave it.
Ceremonial and the Reformed Churches: Part I
Ceremonial is inevitable when any act is repeated in the context of public worship from week to week.
Generally, ceremonial is associated with so-called “high-church” expressions of Christianity. It is certainly a part of the common discourse about the Church of Rome and often appears as a prima facie argument against the Mass. However, I’d like to reconsider this usage of the term. In a previous post I said, “There is a legitimate... Continue Reading
Brethren, We Are Not Counselors
Ministerial myths: The minister as counselor
My contention is that ministers are not therapists. Nor are they counselors except as those who as shepherds who come along side those under their care. They are pastors. They are Ministers of the Word and sacraments. There are limitations to the minister’s calling and abilities. In 1970 Jay Adams’ Competent to Counsel was published and... Continue Reading